MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Fashionopolis Brings Minnesota’s Runway to Mia October 23 With Paris Couture Access and Two Admission Experiences

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s annual fashion event pairs a 300-guest runway presentation with a later museum party, giving both ticket categories access to an international couture exhibition.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (October 23, 2026). Minnesota designers, independent retailers and vintage fashion will share a museum setting with historic Parisian couture Friday evening as Fashionopolis presents “L’Etoile du Nord: A Fashionopolis Experience” at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Organized by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and presented by Skin Rejuvenation Clinic, the October 23 event runs from 6 to 11 p.m. at Mia, 2400 Third Avenue South. Attendance is restricted to adults ages 21 and older.

The evening offers two admission experiences: the Grand Salon, which includes the runway presentation and subsequent party, and the Twilight Soiree, which begins later. Both include access to Mia’s Paris Couture exhibition during the event.

Grand Salon Includes the Runway and After-Party

Grand Salon ticket holders are instructed to arrive at 5:45 p.m., ahead of the experience’s 6 p.m. start. The Parade of Fashion begins at 7 p.m. in the museum’s Jade Corridor.

Co-directed by Grant Whittaker and Jayne Haugen Olson, the 45-minute production will feature emerging and established local designers, vintage clothing and fall selections from independent retailers.

Organizers describe a runway arrangement limited to 300 guests, with seating no more than two rows deep. Grand Salon admission also includes the Twilight Soiree.

At the time of this report, the official Humanitix checkout page listed the standard Grand Salon ticket at $200, plus sales tax and an $11 booking fee. Listed benefits include complimentary valet parking, one drink ticket, the runway experience, after-party access and a gift bag.

The separately listed front-row and second-row Circle Seating categories, along with two Ultra VIP table packages, were marked sold out. The standard Grand Salon listing remained displayed with quantity controls, but the page did not establish how many tickets remained.

Twilight Soiree Offers Later Entry

Twilight Soiree guests enter at 8:30 p.m. for a museum party featuring live music, light bites and a cash bar. Admission includes one drink ticket.

The official checkout page lists this ticket at $75, plus sales tax and a $4.87 booking fee. The later admission does not include the earlier runway presentation.

Prospective attendees should check the live ticket page before making plans, since availability can change. The event listing specifies that purchases are nonrefundable.

Paris Couture Adds an International Dimension

The museum setting gives attendees an opportunity to view Paris Couture, which opened October 4 and continues through January 17, 2027, in Mia’s Target Galleries.

The exhibition brings together more than 80 haute couture works from the Palais Galliera, the Paris Fashion Museum. Spanning the late 19th century through contemporary design, it includes work by Christian Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Elsa Schiaparelli and Madeleine Vionnet.

Among the highlights identified by Mia are Schiaparelli’s embroidered pink evening cape from 1938, Dior’s embellished Palmyre dress from 1952 and a sculptural Balenciaga ensemble from 1967. The exhibition also includes a Chanel look from the spring 2026 couture collections.

These garments offer a historical counterpart to the contemporary Minnesota fashion presented on the runway, with close views of embroidery, construction, fabric and silhouette.

Regular general admission to the special exhibition is $20. Fashionopolis organizers state that exhibition access is included with every event ticket.

An Event Built Around Local Fashion

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine established Fashionopolis in 2013 as a showcase for local designers, independent retail, models and creative talent.

For the 2026 edition, organizers describe a broader connection with the local arts community. Their published event information states that ticket sales and sponsorships help cover the costs of artists, talent and vendors, while the retailers, artisans and designers supplying runway looks do not pay to participate.

The suggested attire emphasizes personal expression. Organizers invite guests to see themselves as works of art and dress accordingly, rather than specifying a mandatory black-tie or couture dress code.

Getting There and Planning an Accessible Visit

Mia is located at 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404.

The museum lists paid parking in its ramp and surface lots, accessible parking near the entrance, bicycle racks and public-transit access. Complimentary valet is specifically included in the published Grand Salon ticket benefits.

Mia also identifies wheelchair-accessible entrances and galleries, seating throughout the museum and mobility equipment among its visitor resources. Guests with event-specific access questions should contact the organizer through the ticket page. General museum visitor questions can be directed to 612-870-3000 or visit@artsmia.org.

Official event information: Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Fashionopolis page

Tickets and current availability: Humanitix ticket page

Exhibition information: Paris Couture at Mia

All event times are Central Daylight Time. Ticket listings and availability reflect the official pages reviewed October 23 and remain subject to change.

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